Tooth Fix

Dentists have long used sealants to help prevent tooth decay, but now there's a solution in testing that actually treats the problem. The liquid contains peptides (small proteins) that penetrate the holes in the teeth at the onset of decay and form a three-dimensional network of fibers, which attracts calcium ions from saliva to rebuild the enamel. "The technology copies what happens naturally when a tooth develops," says Jennifer Kirkham, a professor of oral biology at the Leeds Dental Institute at the University of Leeds in England. When researchers applied drops of the formula to the teeth of 15 adults with early decay, 14 of them had significant repair within 30 days, and they experienced no side effects. The treatment is safe and is digested like any other protein if swallowed, Kirkham says, adding that it could be available in as soon as a year in Europe (FDA approval is pending). The solution only works on early decay, but it may eventually be combined with other stabilizing materials to fix larger cavities, Kirkham says. Nearly 28 percent of American adults ages 20 to 34 have untreated tooth decay, according to a government survey.